Metal stud wall track

ABSTRACT

A metal track used in a stud wall includes a first panel with a ninety degree bend forming a flange thereon, and a second panel with a ninety degree bend forming a flange thereon. The flanges of the first panel and the second panel are positioned on a common plane. An elongated coupling element couples the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship. The elongated coupling element of the metal track is bent periodically at an angle, so as to alternately contact the first panel and the second panel at regular intervals. An attachment element is provided for attaching the metal track to a surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/735,506 filed 10 Dec. 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to stud wall frame construction.

More particularly, the present invention relates to metal stud wallconstruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of frame building construction and supply, metal stud wallsare often employed for interior partitions and the like. Metal studwalls provide strength as well as ease of construction since they arepre-sized and easily screwed together. A detriment of metal studstructures is the expense of the materials used in the studs. Metals canbe expensive and the more metal involved the greater the weight of thestructure built. By reducing the amount of metal involved, the cost andweight of a structure can be reduced.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing andother deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instantinvention, provided is a metal track for a stud wall. The metal trackincludes a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface andopposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at asubstantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. The metal track alsoincludes a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface andopposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at asubstantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. An elongated couplingelement couples the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spacedapart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardlyaway from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward eachother. The flanges of the first panel and the second panel are on acommon plane. An attachment element is provided for attaching the metaltrack to a surface.

Also provided is a stud wall. The stud wall includes a lower metal tracksecured horizontally to a floor member, an upper metal track securedhorizontally to a ceiling member, and a plurality of studs carriedbetween the lower metal track and the upper metal track. The upper metaltrack and the lower metal track each include a first panel having anouter surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposededges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bendforming a flange. Also included is a second panel having an outersurface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edgesbeing angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming aflange. An elongated coupling element couples the first panel to thesecond panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outersurfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the innersurface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the firstpanel and the second panel on a common plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages ofthe invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a metal stud wall frameaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a metal track according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side end view of a metal track according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a metal studpositioned in a track according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention isdirected to FIG. 1 which illustrates a metal stud wall frame generallydesignated 10. Metal stud wall frame 10 includes a lower metal track 12secured horizontally to a floor member 14, an upper metal track 16secured horizontally to an upper floor or ceiling member 18, and aplurality of vertical metal studs 20 received by lower metal track 12and upper metal track 16 and extending therebetween. Drywall, sheetrockor other types of paneling can then be used to cover one, or both sidesof metal stud wall frame 10 to form a partition wall. Metal stud wallframe 10 can also be used as an exterior wall and the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a metal track generally designated 30 isillustrated. Metal track 30 includes a panel 32 having an outer surface34, an inner surface 35 and opposed edges 36 and 38. Edge 38 is turnedinwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming flange 39 havingan outer surface 34 a and an inner surface 35 a. It will be understoodthat while panel 32 is bent to include flange 39, panel 32 can befabricated from two separate pieces joined by a weld, an adhesive,fasteners and the like, at a juncture in place of the bend. Metal track30 further includes a panel 42 having an outer surface 44, an innersurface 45 and opposed edges 46 and 48. Edge 48 is turned inwardly at asubstantially ninety degree bend to form flange 49 having an outersurface 44 a and an inner surface 45 a. Panel 42 can also be formed oftwo separate pieces as described with reference to panel 32. Generally,panel 32 and panel 42 can be formed of any convenient metal material,such as a relatively heavy gauge sheet metal (e.g. 16 gauge to 25 gauge)with the specific metal selected for any specific application. Forexample in applications requiring substantial support the sheet metalselected might be sheet steel while in applications requiring lesssupport but where weight might be a consideration sheet aluminum mightbe used.

Panel 32 and panel 42 are positioned in parallel spaced apartrelationship with outer surfaces 34 and 44 directed outwardly away fromeach other and inner surface 35 and 45 directed toward each other. Itwill be understood that portion of inner surfaces 35 a and 45 aassociated with the flange 39 and 449 will be located on substantiallythe same plane. An elongated coupling element 50 extends between panel32 and panel 42 and is bent periodically at some predetermined angle,generally between 30° and 90°, so as to alternately contact innersurface 35 a of panel 32 and inner surface 45 a of panel 42 at regularintervals (e.g. six inches). Generally, coupling element 50 is a singlecontinuous length of some relatively heavy gauge wire (e.g. 0.100″ to0.200″ thick) that is bent to provide desired contact points 52 withinner surface 35 a of panel 32 and inner surface 45 a of panel 42. Inthis preferred embodiment coupling element 50 is affixed to innersurface 35 a of panel 32 and inner surface 45 a of panel 42 at contactpoints 52 by some convenient method such as spot welding or the like. Itwill be understood that while coupling element 50 lies on inner surface35 a of panel 32 and inner surface 45 a of panel 42 on a common plane,it can be affixed to either inner surfaces 35 a of panel 32 and innersurface 45 a of panel 42, inner surface 35 of panel 32 and inner surface45 of panel 42, or both.

Still referring to FIG. 2, metal track 30 can be fastened to floormember 14 or ceiling member 18 by fasteners such as screws passingthrough apertures 54 formed in flanges 39 and 49. Alternatively, abracket 56 having ends with apertures 58 therethrough, can be positionedover coupling element 50 with fasteners such as screws passing throughapertures 58 into floor member 14 or ceiling member 18

Turning now to FIG. 4, track 30 is illustrated with stud 20 carriedthereby. Stud 20 is received between panel 32 and panel 42, generallyabutting inner surfaces 35 and 45 respectively. Stud 20 rests uponflanges 39 and 49, and upon coupling element 50. Metal track 30 isfabricated with dimensions matching standard requirements of commontracks. In a preferred example, upstanding portion of panels 32 and 42are preferably 1¼ inches while flanges 39 and 49 are preferably ¾inches. The distance between inner surfaces 35 and 45 is preferably 3⅝inches and the distance between outer surfaces 34 and 44 is preferably 311/16 inches.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen forpurposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art.To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of thefollowing claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:

1. A metal track for a stud wall comprising: a first panel having anouter surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposededges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bendforming a flange; a second panel having an outer surface, an innersurface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angledinwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange; anelongated coupling element coupling the first panel to the second panelin a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of eachdirected outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of eachdirected toward each other, the flanges of the first panel and thesecond panel being on a common plane; and an attachment element forattaching the metal track to a surface.
 2. A metal track for a stud wallas claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongated coupling element is bentperiodically at an angle, so as to alternately contact the inner surfacethe first panel and the second panel at regular intervals.
 3. A metaltrack for a stud wall as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongatedcoupling element is affixed to the inner surface of the first panel andthe inner surface of the second panel at contact points.
 4. A metaltrack for a stud wall as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elongatedcoupling element is affixed by spot welding.
 5. A metal track for a studwall as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongated coupling element isbent periodically at an angle generally between 30° and 90°.
 6. A metaltrack for a stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachmentelement for attaching the metal track to a surface includes fastenerspassing through apertures formed in the flanges of the first panel andthe second panel for receipt into the surface.
 7. A metal track for astud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment element forattaching the metal track to a surface includes at least one brackethaving ends with apertures therethrough, positioned over the elongatedcoupling element with fasteners passing through the apertures forreceipt into the surface.
 8. A stud wall comprising: a lower metal tracksecured horizontally to a floor member, the lower metal track includes:a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposededges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantiallyninety degree bend forming a flange; a second panel having an outersurface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edgesbeing angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming aflange; and a elongated coupling element coupling the first panel to thesecond panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outersurfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the innersurface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the firstpanel and the second panel on a common plane; an upper metal tracksecured horizontally to an upper floor\ceiling member, the upper metaltrack includes: a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surfaceand opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at asubstantially ninety degree bend forming a flange; a second panel havingan outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposededges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bendforming a flange; and an elongated coupling element coupling the firstpanel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship withthe outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other andthe inner surface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of thefirst panel and the second panel on a common plane; and a plurality ofvertical studs received by the lower metal track and the upper metaltrack and extending therebetween.
 9. A stud wall as claimed in claim 8wherein the elongated coupling element of the upper metal track and thelower metal track is bent periodically at an angle, so as to alternatelycontact the inner surface the first panel and the second panel of eachat regular intervals.
 10. A stud wall as claimed in claim 9 wherein theelongated coupling element of the upper metal track and the lower metaltrack is affixed to the inner surface of the first panel and the innersurface of the second panel at contact points.
 11. A stud wall asclaimed in claim 10 wherein each elongated coupling element is affixedby spot welding.
 12. A stud wall as claimed in claim 9 wherein eachelongated coupling element is bent periodically at an angle generallybetween 30° and 90°.
 13. A stud wall as claimed in claim 8 wherein thelower metal track is secured horizontally to the floor member and theupper metal track is secured horizontally to the upper floor\ceilingmember by fasteners passing through apertures formed in the flanges ofthe first panel and the second panel of each of the lower metal trackand the upper metal track and engaging the floor member and the ceilingmember, respectively.
 14. A stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein thelower metal track is secured horizontally to the floor member and theupper metal track is secured horizontally to the upper floor\ceilingmember each by at least one bracket having ends with aperturestherethrough, positioned over the elongated coupling element of eachwith fasteners passing through the apertures and engaging the floormember and the ceiling member, respectively.